# Thomas A. Ryan, Jr.

> American programmer of statistical software

**Wikidata**: [Q107546883](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107546883)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thomas-a-ryan-jr

## Summary
Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. was an American statistician, university teacher, and programmer known for his work in statistical software. He was a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and spent his career at Pennsylvania State University. Ryan was born in Ithaca, New York, and died in State College, Pennsylvania, in 2017.

## Biography
- Born: June 12, 1940, in Ithaca, New York
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Programming statistical software and teaching statistics
- Employer(s): Pennsylvania State University
- Field(s): Statistics, software development, university teaching

## Contributions
Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. made significant contributions to the field of statistics through his work as a programmer of statistical software. As a faculty member at Pennsylvania State University, he combined his expertise in statistics with software development to advance statistical methods and education. His programming work likely supported statistical analysis and research capabilities for students and colleagues. Ryan's contributions helped bridge the gap between theoretical statistics and practical computational tools, making statistical methods more accessible and efficient for researchers and students alike.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Thomas A. Ryan, Jr.'s primary occupation?
A: Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. was primarily a statistician, university teacher, and programmer who specialized in statistical software development.

### Q: Where did Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. work?
A: Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. was employed by Pennsylvania State University throughout his career.

### Q: What professional recognition did Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. receive?
A: Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. was named a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 1981.

## Why They Matter
Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. played an important role in advancing statistical education and practice through his work as both an educator and software developer. By combining his statistical expertise with programming skills, he helped create tools that made statistical analysis more accessible and efficient. His position at Pennsylvania State University allowed him to influence generations of students and researchers, while his Fellow status in the American Statistical Association recognized his professional contributions to the field. Ryan's work exemplified the growing importance of computational methods in statistics during the late 20th century.

## Notable For
- Fellow of the American Statistical Association (1981)
- Programmer of statistical software
- Longtime faculty member at Pennsylvania State University
- Combined statistical expertise with software development
- Born in Ithaca, New York, and died in State College, Pennsylvania

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Thomas A. Ryan, Jr. was born on June 12, 1940, in Ithaca, New York. His father was Thomas Arthur Ryan. The source material does not specify his educational background.

### Professional Career
Ryan spent his professional career at Pennsylvania State University, where he worked as a statistician, university teacher, and programmer. His work focused on statistical software development, combining his expertise in statistics with programming skills to create tools for statistical analysis.

### Professional Recognition
In 1981, Ryan was elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association, a significant honor recognizing his contributions to the field of statistics. This designation acknowledges professionals who have made outstanding contributions to statistical science.

### Personal Life
Ryan was married to Barbara Falkenbach Ryan. He was a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). He died on October 17, 2017, in State College, Pennsylvania, at the age of 77 from pneumonia, after suffering from multiple health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, and vascular dementia.

### Legacy
Ryan's work as a programmer of statistical software contributed to the advancement of statistical methods and education. His dual expertise in statistics and programming exemplified the interdisciplinary approach that became increasingly important in the field of statistics during his career.

## References

1. [Friends Journal. 2018](https://www.friendsjournal.org/thomas-arthur-ryan-jr/)
2. IdRef
3. [Source](https://ecommons.cornell.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/0782c763-ca8e-4af5-8b59-53737d8ecf9c/content)
4. Fellows of the American Statistical Association database
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File